Preamble

The House met at Half past Two o'Clock

[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]

DEATH OF KING GEORGE VI

It having pleased Almighty God to take to His Mercy Our late Most Gracious Sovereign Lord King George of blessed memory, who departed this life this day, at Sandringham House;

And the House being met—

The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill): Mr. Speaker, the House will have learned with deep sorrow of the death of His Majesty King George VI. We cannot at this moment do more than record a spontaneous expression of our grief. The Accession Council will meet at 5 o'clock this evening, and I now ask you, Sir, to guide the House as to our duties.

Mr. Speaker:: I shall suspend the Sitting of the House until 7 o'clock. When the House resumes at that hour, I shall myself take and subscribe the Oath, according to law, and give an opportunity to right hon. and hon. Members to do the

same. I further propose to take the Chair tomorrow, and, if necessary, on Friday, at the usual hours appointed for those days, and to sit for as long as may be requisite to enable other hon. Members to take the Oath of Allegiance.

Mr. SPEAKER left the Chair.

Mr. SPEAKER resumed the Chair at Seven o'Clock;

And His late Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and others, having met, and having directed that Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, be proclaimed Queen on Friday at Eleven of the clock by the Style and Title of Elizabeth the Second;

Mr. SPEAKER alone took and subscribed the Oath;

Several other Members present took and subscribed the Oath or made and subscribed the Affirmation required by Law.

ADJOURNMENT

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn.—(Mr. Redmayne.)

Adjourned accordingly at Seventeen Minutes to Ten o'Clock.